If we were having real coffee together, we’d be sitting outside on my deck, and I’d tell you to look over the edge of the deck so you could see the little blooms on my Lenten rose, and we’d talk about how it is so amazing that this unlikely plant was able to be transferred from a small pot in my house, into the soil in the ground, and covered with snow for nearly 6 months, and un-expertly over-trimmed this spring by yours truly, and STILL eventually sprout these beautiful little roses again.
Nature is one big miracle.
But first, what are you drinking today? For me, it’s the same green smoothie as every other day: mango, spinach, water, and Bolthouse Green Goodness juice (because it’s a little creamier and makes the texture of the smoothie basically like an ice cream shake), but depending on the moment could also be sparkling water and coffee and homemade strawberry lemonade if we’re past 6pm.
Grab your tea, your iced coffee, your sparkling water… time for our monthly coffee date.
American Ninja Warrior
YEAH WE WENT THERE. Like, literally went there.
American Ninja Warrior recorded part of this next season here in Minneapolis, and Bjork’s actual-ninja-cousin got to compete, and we went and watched it live, and it was probably the highlight of my summer.
I can’t really say much about what happened and YOU KNOW THIS IS HARD FOR ME but I would just like you to keep an eye out for Leif, The Swedish Ninja, and his two top-nerd-level fans (hint: both wearing glasses) in the stands during the Minneapolis qualifiers on this season of American Ninja Warrior.
Any ANW fans or – better yet – ANW athletes out there?
Capsule Wardrobe, Maternity Edition
(It’s not like my closet was exactly that clean, okay? I definitely did move an overflowing laundry basket and a few random straggler socks out of the way for this picture.)
Remember how I was super into the capsule wardrobe thing? It’s still going strong. Here are the ideals that keep me devoted to the capsule concept:
- Buy things you 100% love
- Buy things that 100% fit
- Buy things that 100% fit your lifestyle
- Buy less
However: one small challenge to the capsule = being pregnant again.
With what my doctor nicely described as above average weight gain (shoutout to banana cream pies, raspberry crumble bars, and mocha peanut butter pie which will be coming to the blog soon) AND a larger-than-average 21 week baby in there, it’s safe to say that I have now fully transitioned to a completely maternity wardrobe. I know a lot of people hate maternity clothes, but I actually don’t mind them – a) comfortable, and b) special. I really longed to wear these clothes last year.
So the fact that they are maternity clothes is not a problem, but the extra few all-around pounds plus the limited choices in styles has made the categories of love and fit a tiiiny bit challenging.
So far, here’s what’s in my summer capsule:
- a few maternity layering tanks / tees from Target
- a few pairs of maternity shorts from A Pea in the Pod
- a few maternity tops from A Pea in the Pod and Motherhood Maternity (and I’m sorry but I really dislike that name, MM)
It’s a good start, but I still feel like I’m a little lacking. For example, I love to wear summer dresses, and I have yet to find a maternity dress that fits somewhere between the styles of draped tent and rubber band.
So, in terms of cute tops, dresses, and other summer maternity essentials… what are your suggestions for me? Where to shop, what to buy? Keep in mind I work from home and never wear anything remotely fancy and dog hair is a permanent fixture of my lifestyle.
Shhhower Cap
Do you guys wash your hair every day? People say it’s better for your hair – I say it’s easier for my life.
Enter: a shower cap. A real live shower cap. This is the one I bought.
I’m not going to say it’s cute. I know they try to sell it as cute and fashionable, but please. Come on. This really does not look cute on anyone, does it? Even floral patterns can’t make you NOT look like an instant mushroom-head.
But on the plus side, it’s awesome at keeping your hair fresh, smooth, and dry while still showering in between hair washes. It’s made from a really nice sturdy-but-soft-ish material and has a tight (but manageable) seal around the outside to prevent those little frizzies around your face. I love it. I use it on ALL Day Two and Day Three hair days.
Do you wash your hair every day? Every other? Yeah, we’re getting personal here.
Meal Prep
Maybe I’m trying to make up for lost time from the first trimester when the only thing I cooked or ate was deliciously cheap packets of noodle soup, or maybe I’m finally becoming an adult.
Either way, this month I’ve been a lot more intentional about meal prep and IT’S BEEN SO AWESOME! Less waste, more intentional grocery shopping, and healthier eating.
Here’s my system, if you can call it that.
On Sunday, I do these three things:
- I prep overnight oats for breakfast to last for the week.
- I prep one single lunch recipe to last for the week. Usually this is something simple like chicken and rice bowls, roasted veggies and tofu, summer soup, etc.
- I look at the calendar to see how many times we’ll be eating dinner at home that week. Guess what? Usually 2-3 dinner recipes during the week is more than enough for the two of us. Once I pick the 2-3 recipes for the week, I order my groceries to be delivered via Instacart. And then I write our weekly meals into my bullet journal so I actually remember that I do, in fact, have a plan when I start to feel the pull towards frozen pizza.
With this (very loose) system, we are eating healthier, and by the end of the week, the fridge is clean and empty – just how I like it. We can eat out guilt-free during the weekend (brunch! brunch! brunch!) and re-start the system again on Sunday.
Boom! Look at me go, mom! I’m a real meal planner!
What do you guys do for meal prep and meal planning?
Facebook Group Fun
You know how sometimes Facebook feels a little blah?
This month we decided to revive our Facebook VIP Group in an effort to make Facebook fun again. Look at all these fun people who are a part of the group! They are awesome. And fun. Did I mention also: fun?
Want to look at pictures of everyone’s pets and see what kitchen tools people love and talk about what you’re making for dinner? This group is your place. It’s kind of like the coffee date, but more often.
The group is moderated by both me and Abby, our social media queen, and it’s been a blast. You should join us!
As usual, Sage would like to close out the coffee date with an inspirational message.
Sage wants you to know that, in her experience, sometimes the best you can do is lay on the couch and chill. Take a few deep breaths. Maybe let someone feed you a treat even though you are still working on those excess neck rolls from winter.
She knows maybe that’s what you need this week and she fully supports you in that.
Full of wisdom, that girl.
Hope you guys have had a really nice, sunny, flowery May! Bring on all the June!
I love these posts. As a person who also had an above average weight gain during pregnancy, I would 100% recommend the maxi dresses from old navy. I got a couple and basically alternated wearing them everyday in the summer when I was super pregnant. Their maternity stuff is online. So comfy and they hid my super swollen feet! I need to get better at meal planning, thanks for the inspiration!
I agree, Old Navy was definitely my go-to for maternity clothes. I also had a few pieces from H&M that I really liked. Love seeing your bump selfies on IG! Cutest bump, and sweetest blessing ❤️
I agree, I went to Old Navy for tees (the luxe ones are long enough for the bump) and then I stocked up on leggings from Costco, because they’re cheap, comfy, but can take a lot of wear and tear.
Yes – Old Navy really pulled through for me with the maternity clothes!
I also was above-average. Target had lots of cute maternity clothes! I also bought a few of the Lou & Grey swing dresses in a size or two up – I usually wear a small but opted for a few mediums. They got me through the summer, and in the fall I wore with leggings and boots!
Also, rent the runway now does maternity! I so would have done it had I known!
Excellent! Thank you for the recs!
I couldn’t survive without meal planning. I also plan 2-3 meals a week, but make larger amounts so I am not cooking every night. The kids don’t love it, but hey, it’s their after school activities that make us short on time!
Finding maternity dresses was always the hardest for me. Old Navy was probably where most of mine were from. Gap for tops and shorts/pants. Also, I waited until my third baby to buy a maternity nightgown (it also came with a maternity robe)….biggest regret ever. It was so comfortable. The robe may or may not still be in rotation four years later….. I really wished I had bought maternity sleepwear sooner. Don’t forget to add that to your maternity capsule! So comfy and like you said, it just feels special!
i found old navy to have great maternity dresses and basics! And asos was a good one too! i gained 50 lbs during pregnancy…yikes…
I love these coffee dates. I’m having my morning ice water with lemon.
I shampoo and condition my hair every other day and on the in between days I just condition. My hair tends to get all messy and unruly when I sleep so I need to do something to help style it.
I love that photo of Sage!
Look at Old Navy, Gap and Target for dresses, that is where I found most of mine. You have to look online though, they don’t really have much in store presence. There’s also a website PinkBlush with cute, feminine dresses if you find yourself needing something for a special occasion. Congrats 🙂
I am 22 weeks pregnant and was going to suggest Pinkblushmaternity.com as well! They have casual and dressier options and there’s always a 20% off sale going on. They’re relatively inexpensive as is, but watch for sales!
This might sound excessively effusive, but lady, I love you! Reading your blog just makes me SO happy and I am convinced that you are the most wonderful person in the whole world. Stay awesome!
As for clothes, I am a seamstress and I’ve never been pregnant, so I can’t really help with maternity recommendations. BUT! I was just thinking the other day that this is my personal mantra for sorting out what should actually be in my sewing queue:
What I like does not always look good on me.
What looks good on me is not always what I like.
For example, if I wear the wide-legged pants that I love seeing on thin, mile-high models, I look like a tree stump. And on the other side, I look fantastic in clingy, fitted dresses but showing off my figure that much makes me uncomfortable . Thus, the ideal wardrobe items should fit in the sweet spot of “I like this style AND it looks good on me.” When a piece hits that spot, it is always something that I reach for regularly.
Finishing pun – Your adorable puppy always offers SAGE advice. HAR HAR!
LOL – thank you! I can assure you I am not the most wonderful person in the whole world but I sure appreciate the love. That mantra of yours is a keeper – “I like this style AND it looks good on me.”
I’ve had a lot of luck with maternity dresses on Amazon. It’s the first time where I’ve bought things online and they actually fit every time. There are many styles that come in a variety of colors and are affordable (I think). Best part – they come in 2 days so when it’s Monday and you’re like “I have nothing to wear this week”, the crisis is averted. Congratulations and good luck to you on your pregnancy!
I have meal planning down to an art! Everything goes in Evernote. Each week I go through my dinner recipes folder in Evernote and tag the ones I want to make as “thisweek”. Then I open up the grocery list in a separate window and fill it in with ingredients from the recipes I have tagged. Then I either order it with Peapod or get my lazy butt to the store. 🙂 We cook dinner almost every night and leftovers are usually eaten for lunch.
ANW came to Daytona last year and our gym got contacted because they needed testers for the obstacles. I signed up and got to try out some stuff, totally ate it but OMG it was an experience I’ll remember forever. Then, I had tickets to the taping so my friends and I went to the 8pm time slot and stayed until 4 in the morning. We even got on the tv a few times when the Daytona finals aired. Its one of those bucket list type of experiences and probably the most fun weekend I had all last year. I LOVED it
YES! YOU ARE A REAL NINJA!!!!
I have a hard time buying even normal clothes online, so I definitely second everyone who said Old Navy. I got two dresses from there and was able to return everything that didn’t fit to the store…so much easier than trying to ship returns in my opinion. And their prices are great for something I’ll only wear temporarily!
Old Navy has been my lucky place for maternity dresses so far! Some don’t even look very maternity, they are just empire waisted ones that I would wear anyway. Cheap and nice looking.
I *LOVE* ANW and am so bummed I couldn’t make it to the Minneapolis event. I’ll be sure to look for the Leif when the episode airs!
I found Old Navy (and Target, which you already mentioned) to be great for inexpensive but cute maternity clothes. Also, consignment/second hand stores. And H&M used to have some super cute maternity stuff but I don’t know what they have now; the ones by me closed. 🙁
Also, question about your shower cap: I bought a fabric one from the grocery store that I thought would be an upgrade to the plastic hotel ones I’d steal, but I noticed they’d start to stink like wet, mildewy fabric after only a few weeks. I even tried machine washing it (multiple times) and the stink persists. Does your new shower cap do that or is it stink free??
No stink! Not ever! And I stick it back in a bathroom drawer while it’s even still a little wet on the outside because I am lazy about drying it and it STILL doesn’t stink. The fabric is not even really like fabric… it’s like non-plasticy raincoat material, if that makes sense, so that probably helps since it really doesn’t absorb water at all.
That’s great, thanks! Now I just have to figure out how to justify spending $40+ on a shower cap. 😛
Try Old Navy for dresses. I found a few maternity dresses and a few of their regular dresses that I LIVED in when I was pregnant. They are comfy and some are stretchy, and they worked perfect and were pretty affordable as well. Absolutely love watching that beautiful rainbow baby grow! Congratulations <3
Gap and loft maternity had my favorite maternity dresses!
YES to meal prep, brunch, and washing our hair every other day! I use a turbie twist but the shower cap is much more legit/water proof. Oh, and I hate how they rank pregnancy weight based on an “average” Love your s/o to those delish sounding desserts for the extra pounds. Totally worth it, obviously. And I’m sure the baby appreciates taste-testing for the blog 😉
For maternity dresses, I’ve had luck with empire-waist dresses on Amazon. They usually aren’t labeled as maternity, but the “waist” tends to hit right over the bump, giving you a fitted look up top and a loose, twirly dress look on the bottom. There are a bunch of cheap ones (because cheap = good when only wearing for a few months), and are soft and stretchy. They were a nice break from my usual jeans work attire, especially in the summer when I just didn’t feel like wearing pants. 🙂 And easily pairable with leggings when it starts to cool down.
I am also on my 2nd pregnancy, and at 18 weeks the bump is wayyy bigger so much sooner this time around. I agree with you about maternity clothes – I actually get excited to wear them because they represent something special and it’s a nice break from my usual wardrobe (which is feeling kind of drab these days). So I say, three cheers for the elastic waistband!
I’m jealous of the current maternity wear. When I was pregnant, I wore tents. (My boys are 21 and 19.) So I say, wear those cute form fitting tops and dresses!
Also, I wash my hair every other day or every third day, unless I swim. Then I like to wash the chlorine out! 🙂
You are just the cutest, Lindsay. I’m so excited for you and Bjork, and that little miracle baby inside of you. Praying for you always.
I found a couple of cute, flattering, flowy, both short and maxi style summery dresses at old navy. And honestly, I found one or two at thrift stores in my town, but I was really looking 😉
Uh, Target! Target has a J.Crew-sie thing going on right not and I’m pretty sure I saw some very good looking maternity clothes last time I was there. I think there are tons of tops and dresses that could pass for maternity also.
Lindsay, you MUST check out Carly Jean Los Angeles for your maternity clothing capsule- actually just capsule wardrobe in general! It is the entire concept of her brand! She has a website, but her Instagram is awesome b/c they ‘story’ all the clothes and answer questions about sizing, etc. Their clothes are AMAZINGGG and work pre-baby, baby bump, and post baby! I found them after my son was born in August and literally wish I could toss my entire wardrobe out the window and start over- hehe 🙂
And for meal prep, since August I have maybe been to the grocery store 5x (oops!) I always order them online now!! B/c there are a million better ways to spend my weekend than wandering aimlessly up and down the isles lol.
Thanks for your coffee dates, your words, your recipes, and sharing your journey!
Gap has some maternity stuff I like (like the jeans and a few tops) and I like some of Target’s selection like leggings, tops, tanks. But Pink Blush Maternity is awesome for cute summer dresses! And I live in Blanqi’s support tank tops w basic short-sleeved cardigans that I find for cheap on Amazon. Fellow preggo mom over here (#4 so I’ve tried lots of maternity clothes too! :). So so happy for you and Bjork. ❤️ I’ve been loving and following your blog for a long time and have also experienced baby loss, both as a mom and as a sibling so your story is very dear to me. Blessings always to you and your beautiful family and prayers for a wonderful rest of your pregnancy. ❤️❤️❤️
I’ve bought some maternity stuff that I like from Asos! This dress was probably my favorite: https://www.asos.com/us/asos-maternity/asos-design-maternity-off-shoulder-button-through-midi-sundress/prd/9665034?CTAref=We%20Recommend%20Carousel_7&featureref1=we%20recommend%20pers
I’m not big on floral prints or bodycon dresses (I have a couple but literally every maternity dress seems to either by bodycon or empire waist).
I loved the bodycon maternity dresses from Motherhood. They were comfy and easy. I wore them my entire pregnancy, layering on sweaters/jean jackets and scarves as the weather got chillier. If you wear boots, you can get away without wearing pants when it’s chillier out! We all know pants are no woman’s friend in late pregnancy…
Also, it seems like a luxury, but go to a reputable lingerie shop and get yourself professionally fitted for some bras you can wear during your pregnancy and for some top notch nursing bras and tanks (if that’s your plan). It made a WORLD of difference and I have never once regretted spending that money.
Oh, and Stitchfix also has great maternity and post-partum/nursing options if you don’t feel like doing it all yourself!
love this so much, thank you for brightening my morning and making me smile… the excess neck rolls almost made me spit my coffee out 🙂